Clayton Otter Creek at Zoo Knoxville opened to the public on Monday, March 7. The $3 million aquatic habitat is home to high-energy otters Pascal, Clayton and Reed, who are championing the zoo’s conservation mission as ambassadors for clean water. Zoo members got exclusive access to see them during a special preview this past weekend.
The three young male North American river otters are all new to Knoxville. One-year-old Pascal, 9-month-old Clayton and 3-year-old Reed will play an important role as advocates for their species, emphasizing how critical clean water is for otter habitats. They are encouraging zoo visitors to help prevent microplastics from polluting our local waterways by bringing reusable water bottles that can be refilled in bottle stations throughout the zoo or purchasing water in aluminum bottles.
“Otters are one of the most beloved animals at the zoo, and we knew they were natural advocates for the health of our water systems,” said Lisa New, CEO and president of Zoo Knoxville. “Our rivers and lakes are part of the fabric of our culture here in East Tennessee, but unfortunately, the Tennessee River has one of the highest microplastic concentrations ever recorded in a river worldwide. Pascal, Clayton and Reed help us put our conservation mission into action by inspiring simple but impactful ways we can protect our waterways. The healthier our rivers are, the more opportunities for otter habitats there are.”
North American river otters are a conservation success story. Once found in waterways throughout North America and Canada, they were extinct in Middle and East Tennessee by 1958 due to river pollution, habitat destruction, and unregulated hunting. In 1984, The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) began the first of a series of restoration programs, reintroducing otters in every major river system in the state until 1993. The otters thrived and were taken off Tennessee’s endangered species list in 1999.
The zoo has returned to its warmer weather hours of operation from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Last admission is one hour before closing time.
For more information about programs or becoming a member at Zoo Knoxville go here.
Tina Rolen is director of marketing and communications at Zoo Knoxville.